Down vest recommendations?

[Guest]

I need a new down (or ?) vest. Mine is years old and getting oddly snug, it must be shrinking.

Looking for some recommendations.

Criteria:

Down, for compressibility, unless someone can synthetically convince me otherwise.

XXL, so I have enough room to layer underneath.

Pockets, deep enough stuff doesn’t fall out, insulated for hand warming. Or zippered pockets with an open hand warmer front pouch. Doesn’t need inside pockets, which I find stupid.

On consideration I do want a zippered/draft tube vest, for open ventilation and access to the pockets on my under garb.

What else? Shell material? Down fill type? Length?

And all that for less money than I pay for used canoes.

 

[yellowcanoe]

Go work for LLBean. I got mine at the employee store for five bucks

Also go raid Goodwill. Not only the retail stores but see if they have a "by the pound" outlet. We have one near here..

Bookmark Steep and Cheap

http://www.steepandcheap.com/rc/patagonia-on-sale?p=size:XXL&nf=1

 

[frozentripper]

Down is warm when dry, OTOH once it gets damp the insulating qualities will drop... if a down vest gets wet, the insulation will probably drop down to near zero. A warmer vest in the long run should be one made with synthetic fill... IIRC Primaloft was engineered to insulate well when wet by repelling water. Down will also take forever to dry out because it absorbs water readily whereas Primaloft's drying time should be much faster... again, because it repels water.

Wool vests might also be available out there, wool sweaters are great for warmth when wet.

 

[Alan Gage]

They have water repellent down now. I don't know how effective it is in the real world or if it's commonly being used in jackets. Most of the small scale quilt makers use it now.

Alan

 

[yellowcanoe]

I've soaked my down bag and still lived. It gets damp often in FL yet it's fine down to rated temps
If you have small baffles the danger of damp down clumping is small. Even when damp

Down is way more insulating pound for pound especially if you get high loft
It's no accident Maine Wardens who spend all day outposts wear down

I have a bunch to Primaloft that is not cheap but not as good a performer
It's going to Goodwill

Mike has been happy with his down vest for years. He's just looking for another. He doesn't need an education after all

 

[Canotrouge]

" He doesn't need an education after all" I don't get that??

 

[Will Derness]

I've been very pleased with a 850 fill down vest I got from Bean. Comes in tall, XXL size. They still sell it, but it is pricey. Packs small in its own stow pocket. The vest and a primaloft shell makes a great combo that works for me down to 25 degrees or so.

Just received an email from Bean for 20% off on purchases over $50. Use Thanks20 for the code.

 

[yellowcanoe]

" He doesn't need an education after all" I don't get that??

A new camper might not know the properties of down; and an education might or not be welcome. Someone who has worn out a down vest knows what it will and won't do

 

[Guest]

Mike has been happy with his down vest for years. He's just looking for another. He doesn't need an education after all

I am not averse to a little down education and opinion. I have read a little about the new water repellant down treatment, but also heard that it breaks down faster. The down fill numbers (850, etc) are long forgotten, so I’ll have to familiarize myself again.

Likewise I am not adamantly opposed to synthetic fill vests, but I’m usually wearing it under a Gore-Tex jacket in the winter, even when it is not raining, and I do like the compressibility of down.

Truth be told I will look, listen and research, and then most likely buy a discounted Steep and Cheap or REI Outlet vest that meets most of my criteria, so if anyone sees such shout out.

 

[dogbrain]

I'm partial to Feathered Friends out of Seattle for down bags and clothing. They only make a couple of vests, and I own neither, but I do have the hooded helios jacket that's the same as the helios vest with the arms and hood cut off. It has nice deep insulated pockets without zippers. I don't think you can buy a better made, warmer vest than this, but you also pay the price. Given that Montana is cold and dry, down is the best choice for insulation around here. In the old days you could have FF make any jacket and any sleeping bag custom fit with a wide choice of fabrics and amount of down fill, but those days are gone. I have 3 bags, 2 parkas, a bivy sack and my wife has a FF bag. One of my sleeping bags has at least 400 nights on it and the down is as good as new after a washing. High fill power down will last a lifetime if you take reasonable care, the fabric will wear out first.

Another consideration is the construction. The jacket I described above is sewn through construction, which will lower the cost, but also won't be quite as warm. I think most vests would be sewn through. The fabric is the other consideration. This particular FF vest is made with relatively light fabric, so won't really be up to having a bunch of sharp abrasive stuff coming in contact. I have an old down jacket I use for carrying firewood and being around sharp metal objects, ie. it has lots of patches.

Mark

 

[frozentripper]

Some REI vests currently on sale, 30%-50% off, $50-$100 and seem to have the right features, compression, warmth, deep pockets, etc... both are synthetic insulation (that's my bias to synthetics from having had to deal with cold, wet down jackets in the past). The North Face seems to get the better reviews, with the oddly-named ThermoBall insulation... the REI has Primaloft.

https://www.rei.com/product/868258/the-north-face-thermoball-vest-mens#

https://www.rei.com/product/883336/rei-revelcloud-vest-mens

 

[snapper]

I have both the LL Bean 850 down "sweater" and jacket with the hydro-coating (sorry, can't remember the actual name for the product) on the down fluffs and find both garments to be really comfortable and lightweight. I could probably get by with just one of the two but the "sweater" was on sale and I had so many coupons built up that it didn't really cost me much so I picked it up for backpacking and 3 season paddle trips. So far I've been impressed with the performance of both. If it helps any, I wear an XL in Bean products and weigh in (on a good day) around 205 pounds but only stand 5' 8". I find that their clothing is usually sized properly for my needs.

That's all for now. Take care and until next time...be well.

snapper

 

[Doc.]

I gave up on down and synthetic vests many seasons ago. I wear a Woolrich classic red/black wool vest under an outer shell. Insulates even when wet. It has two chest pockets and two snap waist pockets. Tough as hades. Couldn't be more pleased.
Doc

 

[red langford]

Funny I have been eyeing down jackets of late and this thread is interesting. I have great wool layers but the draw to the down is the packability. My wool Blanket shirt almost needs it's own pack it's so bulky. I like the idea of having a compact, packable insulation layer that stays in the bay save for the few hours on those colder fall evenings and the hour in the morning before the sun heats everything up. I never considered a vest though.

 

[yellowcanoe]

Down Vests are my go to around the house outside and around town. Or taking a brisk walk. I have a couple from LLBean that are no longer stylish but quite functional. Curiously I tend not to take them on canoe trips.

I have a freeking hunter orange down coat for outside work in hunting season.. If I wear it to Rodeo Drive they will kick me out.

 

[Odyssey]

I once had a down parka and a down jacket, both from L.L.Bean. They were very comfortable, not just for cold nights but also for temperate spring days. I also had wool jackets that cut the cold incredibly well. Alas, I foolishly wore them all to work, one by one, and one by one they all became tattered and spattered from construction site mud, blood, and whatever. Foolish me. Down and wool are expensive these days so I've been wearing fleece mostly. Not at all comparable to down or wool, but cheap and easy to find used.
I keep my eye out for down and wool still.
Once upon a time long ago in the land before time, when wives and sweethearts would knit their menfolk wool sweaters and jackets complete with images of curlers, hockey players, moose or beaver, we men would stride about confident in our woollen apparel. Until they shrunk. Not long ago I asked for a new/olde tyme woollen sweater jacket. Any image would do. I was told "Are you kidding me?! Do you have any idea how much wool costs these days?!! You'd be better off just buying something!"
I'm still keeping my eye out for down and wool.

 

[Boreal Birch]

Like Doc, I like my wool, Woolrich classic vest in black, looks good, has that nice wool warmth. For colder weather I used to wear a Filson red & black checked vest that I really liked until I outgrew it, (I am now a XL and it is a Large) I don't have the heart to part with it yet although I know I should take it the the Sal Va Army or Goodwill. I still wear it unbuttoned & it still makes me feel outdoorsy. I would buy another, but the ones I have checked out in the stores seem to have gone to a cheaper, thinner grade of wool under what I would think is new management. These days as mid layer when it is cold out I have a duffle cloth vest made by Wintergreen in Ely MN. I got some scraps from them and made two front patch pockets in front (it did not have any pockets) and two pockets on the inside over where my kidneys are, that I put those little chemical hand warmers in. That keeps me toasty, hunched over a hole in the ice, while not catching fish. I of course wear a big down parka over everything, plus snow pants to keep warmth in.
I have had down insulated vests in the past, The only ones that I can remember that held up were one from Holubar, from back in the days of 60/40 cloth and one from Eddie Bauer back before Elaine Bauer took over with foo foo stuff. The other down vests always left a trail of feathers until only a couple of layers of nylon remained.
If I were looking for a new vest I would try to find a heavy fleece, with a Supplex nylon shell, in the meantime I'll stick with wool, because it works around water and open fire sparks.

 

[Odyssey]

I'm continuing way off topic again, sorry Mike, but a few years ago I bought a cashmere cardigan (used $10). It's showing it's years but is lightweight and warm on cool nights around camp. I may look like Mr Rogers but who cares? It's amazing how warm and toasty that thinnest of thin wool layers can be.

 

[snapper]

Although I have the LL Bean down garments (see past post), I'm still a firm believer in wool. But, as has already been mentioned, it can be quite bulky. I do like Odyssey's idea of a light sweater though. Very practical and still effective I would think.

That's all for now. Take care and until next time...be well.

snapper

 

[yellowcanoe]

Wool Blanket Shirt.. On me looks like Wool Blanket Dress. Felted windtight warm and o so heavy. WIth my Arctic Anorak I look like an igloo with feet.. The website says its home on a portage.. Only if I am allowed one burro for the portage!

this led me to check of Empire Canvas had a wool vest. Its out of stock..who knows. At anyrate its out of my price range. And surely Mike Mc's too.

http://empirecanvasworks.com/product/jackpine-vest/